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Tornado damages 263 buildings in Louisville

LOUISVILLE, Ga. --- At least 263 structures in Jefferson County were damaged by a tornado that struck Louisville early Sunday morning, county Emergency Management Agency Director Lamar Baxley said Monday.

Mr. Baxley said 242 of those structures were homes. "That includes mobile homes, single-family dwellings and multifamily dwellings," he said.

Damage ranged from minor to major, he said, but only a few homes were destroyed.

Power had been restored to most homes and businesses Monday.

"We still have people out in the field working," Mr. Baxley said. He did not yet have a dollar figure on the damage.

The areas hit hardest included homes off Georgia Highway 171 North and on several streets near the city's hospital.

The storm ripped the roof off Arthina Paschall's home. She, her mother, her 2-year-old child, two sisters, 4 and 9, and her 7-year-old brother were given temporary shelter through the Red Cross.

She said the storm hit about 7 a.m. Sunday.

"My mama was up. I jumped up when I heard a whistling noise," Ms. Paschall said. "It sounded like a train coming. We ran into the hallway. Then we got in the closet and started praying until it was over."